July 29, Pozirk. A private company controlled by the Belarusian government is manufacturing two types of attack drones in Minsk, according to a new investigation by the BelPol intelligence group.
In August 2023, the Belarusian government sold a 16-hectare plot in Minsk at a heavily discounted price to the company ZAT Biespiłotnyja Liatučyja Aparaty (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) for the construction of the plant. The site is located at 47 Janki Maŭra Street.
The company is managed by ZAT Vector Capital Group, headed by Viktar Šejman, a close ally of Łukašenka, along with Andrej Svirydaŭ and Mikalaj Sielivanaŭ. According to BelPol, Vector Capital Group reports directly to Łukašenka’s administration, and its executives participate in high-level government meetings concerning the plant.
The facility produces two models: the Askałon (Rus. Askolon), a pusher-propelled delta-wing drone with a range of up to 310 kilometers, similar to Iran’s Shahed; and the Miratvorac (Rus. Mirotvorets), an attack drone with a range of up to 180 kilometers.
The plant is expected to achieve an annual production capacity of up to 960 attack drones by the end of 2025. Each drone has a payload capacity of up to 10 kilograms, BelPol reported.
